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Newly hired police chief apologizes for racist email

He was hired as Farrell, Mercer County's police chief, but now some want him out after an email he sent using a racial slur surfaced. Action News Investigates broke this story prompting a press conference from officials to answer our questions.

He was hired as Farrell, Mercer County's police chief, but now some want him out after an email he sent using a racial slur surfaced. Action News Investigates broke this story prompting a press conference from officials to answer our questions.

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Updated: 11:29 PM EST Nov 23, 2015

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WEBVTT OFFICIALS. MIKE C.: BOFTA YIMAM BROKE THE STORY BY UNVEILING THE E-MAIL TO THE CITY. REPORTER: COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE THE E-MAIL WITH THE N WORD SENT BY THEIR NEWLY ELECTED POLICE CHIEF MONTHS BEFORE HE WAS HIRED. NOW SOME ARE ANGRY, SOME ARE SUPPORTIVE. BUT EVERYONE WANTS MORE DIALOGUE. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I AM TRULY SORRY, I APOLOGIZE DEEPLY. REPORTER: NEWLY HIRED POLICE CHIEF THOMAS BURKE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS E-MAIL HE SENT USING A RACIAL SLUR WHILE FUNDRAISING FOR HIS SON IN APRIL. IT SAYS, EVEN A ONE DOLLAR WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED, THEM SHARING N WORD GOTTA LEARN HOW TO READ. IT WAS SENT TO COWORKERS AND SOME THE THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM. FROM BURKE'S WORK E-MAIL AT A PRIVATE COMPANY. IT SCARES ME BECAUSE WITH HIM BEING ALLOWED TO USE THIS LANGUAGE, IT IS GOING TO INFECT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT. REPORTER: WE OBTAINED THE E-MAIL SHORTLY AFTER BURKE'S SWEARING IN AND OUR INQUIRIES PROMPTED THIS COMMUNITY FORUM. NOW SOME WONDER WILL BURKE HAVE RACIAL BIAS IN POLICING. THERE'S ENOUGH HATE IN THE WORLD, WE DON'T NEED IT HERE. YOU WROTE THAT E-MAIL, SO WHICH WAY IS IT? THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. IT WAS SEVERAL MONTH AGO. I DON'T REMEMBER WRITING THE E-MAIL TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH. REPORTER: THIS COUNCILWOMAN SAYS BURKE MADE A MISTAKE BUT SAYS HE'S NOT RACIST. I FEEL IN MY HEART THAT I DON'T THINK THAT HE WOULD ARREST ANYBODY JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRICAN-AMERICAN. REPORTER: WHEN WE ASKED BURKE WHY HE USED THE N WORD, HE SAID? THAT'S A QUESTION I CAN'T ANSWER. REPORTER: BUT HE ADMITS HE USED THE SLUR BEFORE, SAYING IN SOME CIRCLES IT'S SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE LIKE WITH FRIENDS WHO ARE MINORITIES. I JUST BECAME ONE OF THE BOYS IN THE HOOD, LIKE THE MOVIE. THAT WAS IT. WE HAD A LITTLE -- THAT'S HOW WE WERE OUT THERE. REPORTER: BURKE SAYS HE WILL STOP USING THE N WORD AND DO COMMUNITY POLICING TO GAIN TRUST. BUT SOME SAY THE DAMAGE IS ALREADY DONE. DO YOU BELIEVE HE SHOULD GET THE JOB AS NCAA PRESIDENT, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING TODAY? I BELIEVE HE SHOULD NOT. REPORTER: AS FOR BURKE IMPLYING AFRICAN-AMERICANS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO READ? IT WAS A JOKE, IT WAS IN BAD TASTE. REPORTER: THE CITY SAYS THEY'LL HOLD ANOTHER PUBLIC FOR HIM BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION.

Newly hired police chief apologizes for racist email

He was hired as Farrell, Mercer County's police chief, but now some want him out after an email he sent using a racial slur surfaced. Action News Investigates broke this story prompting a press conference from officials to answer our questions.